How to Choose Art for a Children’s Room: From Babyhood to the Teenage Years

How to choose art for a children’s room is a question many parents ask when designing a space for their baby, child, or teenager. Whether you are decorating a nursery, a playful kids’ room, or a teenage bedroom, wall art plays a key role in creating atmosphere, supporting imagination, and bringing a sense of calm and order. In this article, I share my perspective as an artist and a mother, and offer practical tips on choosing children’s room wall art that feels joyful, meaningful, and timeless.

Designing a children’s room is about much more than furniture and storage. As an artist and a mother, I have learned that the atmosphere we create shapes how a child feels, plays, rests, and grows. Art plays a surprisingly important role in this process. Chosen thoughtfully, it can bring joy, spark imagination, calm the space, and stay relevant far longer than most toys or decorations.

Whether you are designing a nursery for a newborn, a playful room for a young child, or a more refined space for a teenager, I believe original art can become a meaningful and lasting part of your home. I see it not only as decoration, but as something that quietly grows with your child.

For the very youngest children, the room is often filled with soft textures, plush toys, and gentle colors. When I was creating rooms for my own children, I noticed how strongly they reacted to what surrounded them, even before they could speak. Art in a nursery should feel comforting and joyful, but it can also invite curiosity.

Paintings inspired by flowers, dreamy landscapes, and playful natural elements work beautifully here. Soft shapes and layered colors can feel almost like a storybook world, encouraging a sense of wonder. The goal is not visual overload, but a calm, imaginative scene that a child can grow into.

Art like this creates a feeling of safety and magic at the same time – a place where a little girl can feel as if she has stepped into her own gentle fairy tale.

Artwork in this photo is Snowberry Garden.

BOHO KIDS’ ROOMS AND CIRCULAR ART

In bohemian-style children’s rooms, where natural materials and warm tones dominate, circular artwork can become a striking and harmonious focal point.

Round paintings often feel softer and more organic than traditional rectangular formats. They pair beautifully with textiles, wooden furniture, and layered decor. Motifs such as flowers, mandala-like compositions, or small playful details (like a ladybug hidden in the painting) can turn the artwork into a small world a child loves to explore.

What makes this approach special is that the artwork never feels temporary or childish. While it delights children, it is created in a refined, painterly style that can later move into another room in your home.

Artwork in this photo is Ladybug Tag.

As children grow, their imagination becomes more complex and personal. I see this clearly at home as well – what once felt magical and soothing slowly turns into curiosity, stories, and questions. Around the age of eight to twelve, abstract art can be an especially powerful choice.

Abstract paintings invite interpretation. One day, a child might see a rainbow; another day, stars, rain, or an entire universe. These open-ended visuals encourage storytelling, curiosity, and conversation. Abstract art does not tell a child what to see – it leaves space for imagination to lead.

If you enjoy bold or expressive colors in interiors, abstract art can also bring energy and individuality into a child’s room without relying on themed decorations that quickly feel outdated.

Artwork in this photo is Rainlight Circle.

For those who prefer a more traditional look, landscapes with flowers, gentle scenery, and rainbows are a timeless option. These works feel familiar, calming, and universally loved – especially by young children.

A classic painting can act as a visual anchor in the room. Rather than filling the walls with many small pictures, one thoughtfully chosen larger artwork often creates a calmer, more organized feeling. This approach helps the room feel intentional rather than cluttered.

Rainbows and floral motifs are joyful without being overwhelming, making them a safe yet meaningful choice for a child’s space.

As a child becomes a teenager, her room often transforms from a playful space into a more personal sanctuary. This is the moment when a room stops being just "a kids’ room" and starts to reflect personality and taste. The art should evolve as well.

Delicate floral paintings, softer color palettes, and more refined compositions work beautifully in a teenage girl’s bedroom. These artworks add elegance and character without feeling childish. Flowers do not need to be literal or sweet – they can be expressive, artistic, and emotionally resonant.

Chosen carefully, art can support a sense of identity and self-expression during this important stage of life.

For teenage boys, abstract art without floral motifs can be an excellent choice. Shapes, movement, and color create visual interest while keeping the space mature and balanced.

Abstract art brings a sense of seriousness and adulthood, while still leaving room for playfulness and interpretation. Every viewer can find something different in the painting, making it a deeply personal addition to the room.

This type of art complements modern interiors and grows naturally with the child into adulthood.

Artwork in this photo is Toys.

In homes styled around natural colors and materials, tufted wool tapestries can be a beautiful alternative to traditional paintings.

Wool wall art adds warmth and texture to a room. Its soft, three-dimensional surface creates a cozy atmosphere and brings a tactile quality that paintings alone cannot provide. Wool naturally repels dust and helps absorb sound, making it especially suitable for children’s rooms where comfort matters.

Used as a focal point, a tufted tapestry with floral motifs can turn a wall into a source of calm and visual warmth, perfectly complementing bohemian and nature-inspired interiors.

Wool tapestries can be found here.

Many parents hesitate to place original art in a child’s room. I understand that hesitation very well – I had it myself. But art is not fragile decoration; it is something with lasting value.

A thoughtfully chosen artwork can stay with a child for many years, sometimes even a lifetime. And if the child eventually outgrows it, the piece can easily move into another space in your home. In this sense, art is not only decoration but also an investment.

Choosing one larger artwork instead of many small decorations often makes a children’s room feel calmer, more cohesive, and more intentional. Art brings order, atmosphere, and meaning – qualities that benefit both children and adults.

When you choose art for a children’s room, you are not just decorating a space. You are creating an environment where imagination, calm, and beauty can grow together.

Simona